Surviving in a world of demons and monsters to achieve martial arts sainthood

The day the Trial Tower opens.

Shen Lian got up early, changed into the standard flying fish uniform of the Demon Suppression Division, carefully wiped his long sword, and slung it at his waist.

With everything ready, he pushed open the door and went out.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated outside the courtyard, but the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division was already bustling with activity. The official Demon Suppression Envoys walked in twos and threes toward the Trial Tower, each with a solemn expression.

"Brother Shen!"

Chu Wen's voice came through; he, Chen Yun, and Lin Feng had been waiting for a long time.

"Let's go." Shen Lian nodded.

The four followed the flow of people, passed through several courtyards, and arrived at the square.

A nine-story black tower stands in the center of the square, over thirty feet tall, cast entirely from black iron. The tower is covered with intricate runes, and its spire points straight to the sky, exuding a magnificent aura.

That is the Trial Tower.

Hundreds of people had gathered in the square in front of the tower. In addition to the official demon-suppressing envoys, members of the reserve camp, commanders of various guards, and even several silver-badge envoys were present to watch the battle.

Shen Lian's gaze swept across the crowd and quickly locked onto a figure.

The Spring and Autumn Annals of Chu.

Today, he was dressed in a dark gold outfit, his long hair tied up with a jade crown, and a jewel-encrusted longsword at his waist, exuding an imposing aura. Beside him stood several equally distinguished young martial artists, clearly members of the Chu family.

Chu Chunqiu turned his head and looked over, his gaze meeting Shen Lian's.

"Chu Chunqiu has such a strong aura; he's even stronger than before," Chen Yun whispered.

Chu Wen reminded him, "The men around him are all skilled members of the Azure Dragon Guard. The one in blue is Zhou Tong, at the peak of the sixth level of the Heavenly Realm. The one in black is Wang Chuan, who is skilled in external martial arts. The one with the folding fan is Chu Chunqiu's cousin, Chu Wenyuan."

Shen Lian kept these people in mind.

"quiet!"

Zhou Mang suddenly appeared on the high platform, followed by several Silver Badge Envoys and a middle-aged man with a cold face.

"It's Chu Xiong, the deputy commander of the Azure Dragon Guard!" Chu Wen exclaimed in a low voice.

Shen Lian looked at the middle-aged man. This man was burly and his face resembled Chu Chunqiu's. He was Chu Chunqiu's uncle, Chu Xiong, the deputy commander of the Azure Dragon Guard.

Zhou Mang announced loudly, "The Trial Tower opens today. The rules are as follows: Each floor has a guardian puppet or formation. Defeating the guardian allows you to advance to the next floor. Each person initially has three attempts. If you cannot pass the current floor within three attempts, you are considered to have failed. Injuries within the tower are real. If you feel you are outmatched, you can crush the jade token at your waist to teleport out. This trial will be ranked according to the number of floors cleared. If the number of floors is the same, the ranking will be based on the time taken. Now, all registered participants, please step forward to receive your jade tokens!"

More than thirty official demon-suppressing envoys stepped out of the crowd, including Shen Lian. He quickly received a jade token, which was numbered 'seventeen'.

He looked ahead and saw that Chu Chunqiu had been assigned number 'seven'.

Beside Chu Chunqiu, Zhou Tong, Wang Chuan, and Chu Wenyuan each received a jade token, and the three stood with Chu Chunqiu at the center.

Zhou Mang's voice rang out again: "Only one person can enter the Trial Tower at a time. Enter according to the order of the jade token number. Number one is now entering the Trial Tower."

A lean man stepped out from the crowd, bowed to the platform, and strode towards the heavy iron gate at the bottom of the Trial Tower.

"It's Zhao Kuo. He's an old guard of the Azure Dragon Guard. It's said that he made it to the fourth level of the Trial Tower last time," Chu Wen whispered.

The iron gates of the Trial Tower opened, and Zhao Kuo stepped into the Trial Tower.

All eyes in the square were focused on the black tower.

A moment later, the first level of the Trial Tower suddenly lit up with a crimson light.

"First level, cleared!" someone whispered.

After only half a cup of tea's time, the red light on the second layer also lit up.

"Wow, that's fast!"

"It seems Zhao Kuo came prepared this time."

The third window, however, remained dark for a long time.

Time passed slowly, and about fifteen minutes later, the tower gate suddenly opened, and Zhao Kuo staggered out, his chest stained with blood and his face pale.

The character "贰" appeared on the back of the jade pendant in his hand.

"Zhao Kuo has stopped at the second floor."

"It seems the difficulty has increased again this time."

When everyone present saw Zhao Kuo stop at the second floor, they immediately realized that the difficulty of this trial tower had increased significantly.

Zhao Kuo bowed to the high platform and silently retreated into the crowd.

"Number two, enter!"

The next few demon-suppressing envoys performed poorly, with the best only making it to the third level.

The atmosphere in the arena gradually became heavy, and everyone could see that the difficulty of this trial tower was extraordinary.

"Number Seven, Chu Chunqiu!"

The square was silent.

All eyes were on this one of the four great prodigies of Qingzhou.

Chu Chunqiu walked out of the crowd with his head held high. He walked steadily to the front of the Trial Tower and then stepped into it.

boom!

The heavy iron gate slammed shut.

Almost the instant Chu Chunqiu stepped into the tower, the first floor of the Trial Tower lit up with a crimson light.

"So fast?!"

"It's only been a few breaths!"

Gasps of surprise erupted from the crowd.

Zhou Mang stood calmly on the high platform. Chu Xiong beside him nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

The second layer of red light then lit up, less than ten breaths later.

The third floor, the fourth floor...

Chu Chunqiu cleared the levels at an astonishing speed, completing each level in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. By the time he reached the fifth level, less than half an hour had passed.

"This is the fifth floor!"

"Chu Chunqiu truly lives up to his reputation."

The murmurs in the room grew louder and louder.

Shen Lian's gaze was serious. He could sense that Chu Chunqiu's aura was constantly increasing inside the tower, clearly indicating that he was constantly adjusting his state during the battle.

The red light on the fifth floor of the Trial Tower lasted for about fifteen minutes before turning into a golden glow indicating that the test was passed.

"Chu Chunqiu has passed the fifth level!"

"He's still going up!"

Golden light shone outside the sixth floor of the Trial Tower.

This time, the time was significantly longer.

Chu Wen said in a low voice, "Starting from the sixth level of the Trial Tower, it won't be so easy to pass the test."

Shen Lian nodded slightly; he could feel the intense energy fluctuations emanating from inside the tower.

A full half hour passed before the light on the sixth floor of the Trial Tower finally came on.

Sixth floor cleared!

The many demon-suppressing envoys present were all taken aback, but the tower gate did not open.

Chu Chunqiu continued his challenge; he was about to attempt to reach the seventh level of the Trial Tower.

Another half hour passed.

The lights on the seventh floor of the Trial Tower illuminated.

Chu Chunqiu successfully passed through and entered the seventh level of the Trial Tower.

Chu Xiong smiled, and Zhou Mang nodded slightly, clearly approving of Chu Chunqiu's performance.

"Is he going to continue?" Chen Yun whispered.

Now, Chu Chunqiu has forcefully entered the seventh level of the Trial Tower, which has already surpassed many people present, but he is still not satisfied and wants to challenge the eighth level of the Trial Tower.

Chu Wen looked at the Trial Tower, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists. He knew that the eighth level of the Trial Tower was already the limit that a Body Tempering Realm martial artist could reach.

In the past decade, no more than five people from the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division have successfully passed the eighth level of the Trial Tower, demonstrating the difficulty of reaching this level.

If Chu Chunqiu can pass the eighth level, he will surely become famous throughout Qingzhou.

Shen Lian stared at the Trial Tower with a blank expression.

The battle inside the tower had reached a fever pitch. The violent energy fluctuations even penetrated the Xuan Tie Tower, causing the warriors in the square to feel their hearts tremble.

Time passed by, second by second.

One incense stick, two incense sticks, three incense sticks...

The light on the eighth floor of the Trial Tower never came on.

While everyone was waiting.

The trial tower gates suddenly opened.

A figure emerged from the Trial Tower; it was Chu Chunqiu. His clothes were tattered, and the character "捌" was clearly visible on the jade pendant at his waist.

Everyone knew very well that Chu Chunqiu had broken into the eighth level of the Trial Tower.

Unfortunately, I failed to reach the ninth floor of the Trial Tower.

Chu Chunqiu steadied himself, took a deep breath to suppress his surging blood and qi, and bowed respectfully towards the high platform.

Chu Xiong stepped down from the high platform, personally helped Chu Chunqiu up, and said with a smile, "Chunqiu, well done."

"Thank you, Uncle," Chu Chunqiu said in a low voice, then stepped aside with Chu Xiong's help and began to regulate his breathing to recover.

Zhou Mang announced loudly, "Number seven, Chu Chunqiu, has cleared eight levels in three hours and a quarter of an hour, temporarily ranking first!"

Everyone was utterly shocked; Chu Chunqiu's achievement had far exceeded everyone's expectations.

The eighth level of the Trial Tower is almost the limit that a Body Tempering Realm martial artist can reach.

Several more demon-suppressing envoys took to the stage, but their performances were mediocre, with the best one only reaching the fifth floor of the Trial Tower.

"Number seventeen, Shen Lian."

After Zhou Mang announced his next opponent, all eyes immediately turned to Shen Lian. How would this dark horse, who defeated Chu Chunqiu to win the "Rookie Competition," perform in the Trial Tower today?

Chu Wen looked at Shen Lian and said, "Brother Shen, it's up to you now."

Shen Lian nodded, stepped out of the crowd, and walked towards the Trial Tower.

As he passed by Chu Chunqiu, Chu Chunqiu suddenly opened his eyes and whispered, "Shen Lian, let me see just how capable you really are."

Shen Lian ignored Chu Chunqiu and headed straight for the Trial Tower.

The gates of the Trial Tower slowly opened.

As Shen Lian stepped inside, his vision went black for a moment, then a soft light shone through.

The first level of space was not large, about ten zhang square. In the center stood a humanoid puppet, its entire body cast from refined iron, with runes shimmering at its joints.

"The aura of someone around the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm." Shen Lian judged the puppet's strength at a glance and chuckled.

Sensing someone entering, the puppet's eyes suddenly lit up red, and it charged towards Shen Lian. Its movements were not fast, but each step was powerful and heavy.

Shen Lian did not draw his sword. He swayed and used the "Spirit Serpent Step". His footwork changed, like a serpent moving, easily avoiding the puppet's head-on collision. At the same time, he formed his right palm and struck the puppet's chest.

boom!

A dull thud resounded.

The puppet's chest caved in, the runes flickered a few times, then suddenly went out, and it collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Shen Lian didn't even look at it and went straight to the second floor.

Outside the tower, the crimson light of the first level of the Trial Tower shone brightly, the whole process taking less than five breaths.

"Not even five breaths have passed?"

"This speed is even faster than Chu Chunqiu's?"

The many demon-suppressing envoys were horrified.

Shen Lian's speed in passing through the first level of the Trial Tower was actually faster than Chu Chunqiu's.

Chu Chunqiu frowned and snorted coldly, "It's just the first level."

The second level is slightly larger than the first, and guarded by two sword-wielding puppets. These two puppets work in perfect harmony, one attacking and the other defending, their swordsmanship fierce and swift.

Shen Lian still didn't draw his sword. He used the "Serpent Step" to weave through the flashing blades, and seizing the opportunity, he struck the puppets' joints with two consecutive palm strikes. The iron-forged joints snapped instantly, and the two puppets lost their balance and fell to the ground.

The second level was passed in eight breaths.

The third floor, the fourth floor...

Shen Lian's speed in clearing the levels was astonishing. He didn't waste any time and resolved each level in the simplest and most direct way.

When he stepped into the fifth floor, less than an incense stick's time had passed outside the tower.

Chu Chunqiu's expression gradually became serious. Shen Lian went from the first floor to the fifth floor in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, which was faster than his speed.

The guardian of the fifth level of the Trial Tower is a giant axe puppet that is nine feet tall.

This puppet possessed astonishing power; each axe strike produced a whooshing sound, leaving cracks in the ground.

Shen Lian drew his long sword from his waist and unleashed the "Demon Subduing Sword Technique." The sword light flashed like a bolt of lightning. He dodged to the side the moment the giant axe fell, and the long sword precisely struck his shoulder joint.

Clang!

Shen Lian brought down his blade, and sparks flew everywhere.

The puppet's shoulder joint was slashed open, and its movements suddenly froze.

Shen Lian seized the opportunity and suddenly unleashed the second level of "Spirit Serpent Step," "Serpent Shedding," increasing his speed dramatically. He circled behind the puppet and stabbed it into the core of the rune in its back.

Bang!

The giant axe golem crashed to the ground.

I passed the fifth level of the Trial Tower in half a cup of tea's time.

Ten breaths, twenty breaths, thirty breaths...

Outside the tower, the light on the sixth floor of the Trial Tower continued to shine.

Shen Lian stopped on the sixth floor.

When everyone saw the light on the sixth floor of the Trial Tower, they knew that Shen Lian had stopped on the sixth floor and had not yet been able to reach the seventh floor.

Chu Chunqiu sneered. It took him half an hour to clear the sixth level. No matter how strong Shen Lian was, he couldn't possibly be faster than him.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the light from the sixth level turned golden.

"As expected of Brother Shen, you passed the sixth level in just one incense stick's time," Chu Wen said with a smile.

Chen Yun took a deep breath and said, "I wonder which floor Senior Brother Shen can reach in the Trial Tower, and whether he has a chance to surpass Chu Chunqiu."

"That's hard to say," Chu Wen said, shaking his head.

Chu Chunqiu forcefully broke into the eighth level of the Trial Tower, which is not something that anyone can do easily. This is the limit that a Body Tempering Realm martial artist can reach.

Shen Lian is indeed very strong, but whether he can surpass Chu Chunqiu is another matter.

Chu Chunqiu's face darkened completely. It took him half an hour to pass the sixth level of the Trial Tower, while Shen Lian only took the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhou Mang's eyes on the high platform, while Chu Xiong beside him frowned and stared at the Trial Tower with a colder gaze.

The seventh floor of the Trial Tower.

When Shen Lian stepped into this floor, he instantly felt an extremely strong pressure. This pressure was different from gravity; it was more like a kind of mental oppression.

He looked around and saw that the ground, walls, and ceiling were covered with dense array patterns that emitted a chilling energy fluctuation.

"An array?" Shen Lian murmured to himself.

The test on the eighth floor of the Trial Tower is not physical strength, but willpower.

Shen Lian sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Almost the instant he closed his eyes, the hallucination appeared.

In Qinghe County, at the Demon Suppression Division, Li Hu lay covered in blood before him, his eyes wide as he stared at him before dying: "Brother Shen... why... didn't you come sooner..."

"Tiger!" Shen Lian felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he quickly calmed down. "This is an illusion. Li Hu is still in Qinghe County."

The illusion shattered, and a new scene unfolded.

Chen Yun was pierced through the heart by Chu Chunqiu's sword. Before dying, she smiled sadly and said, "Senior Brother Shen... I'm sorry... I'm still... too weak..."

Shen Lian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The pain kept him awake: "Junior Sister Chen is fighting outside the tower, this can't be true."

The illusion changes again.

This time, it was Jiang Han.

The Silver Badge Envoy lay on his sickbed, his face ashen, the Heart-Eating Gu writhing in his chest. He smiled bitterly at Shen Lian and said, "Shen Lian... I can't hold on much longer... Qingzhou... is in your hands now..."

Shen Lian was shocked, but then shook his head.

The hallucinations surged like a tide, and familiar faces died one after another before his eyes, with one tragic scene after another unfolding.

These illusions strike at the most vulnerable parts of the human heart; if one is not careful, one can easily fall into them and become unable to extricate oneself.

Shen Lian focused his mind, and the "Tiger Subduing Stance" mental technique slowly circulated within his body. His blood and qi flowed like a river, cleansing every meridian.

As the cultivation technique circulated, his mind became increasingly clear. Although the illusions continued to appear, they could no longer shake his will.

Outside the tower, the light outside the seventh floor of the Trial Tower continued to shine.

Half an hour has passed.

Chu Chunqiu snorted lightly. He had struggled for almost an hour in the seventh level of the Heart Demon Illusion Array before barely managing to pass through.

If Shen Lian could pass the test even faster, it would undoubtedly be a slap in his face.

Another incense stick's time passed.

The light on the seventh floor of the Trial Tower suddenly intensified, then turned into a faint golden glow.

This is precisely the sign for the seventh floor.

"Well done, Shen Lian! Your will is as firm as a rock, and your future is promising." Zhou Mang clapped his hands and laughed, clearly very satisfied with Shen Lian's performance.

Inside the Trial Tower, Shen Lian slowly opened his eyes.

His face was pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. The test of the inner demon illusion array was more difficult than he had imagined. Although the illusions were all false, the emotions were real. Every time he saw his relatives and friends die tragically, his heart bled.

"Thank goodness I made it through..." Shen Lian breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Lian then got up and stepped into the eighth floor.

An elderly man with white hair and beard sat cross-legged in the center of the eighth floor of the Trial Tower.

The old man's figure was ethereal, yet his aura was as steady as a mountain. He sat there with his eyes closed, a wooden sword lying across his lap.

"Defeat me to enter the ninth level," the old man said slowly.

Shen Lian gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, refraining from launching a rash attack.

He carefully sensed the old man's aura, which was stronger than that of any of the previous gatekeepers.

"Half-step True Qi Realm," Shen Lian analyzed. "This old man's combat experience probably far surpasses that of an ordinary Body Tempering Realm martial artist."

Just as Shen Lian was pondering, the old man suddenly became agitated.

There was no warning whatsoever.

He suddenly disappeared and then reappeared in front of Shen Lian, thrusting his wooden sword forward with the tip pointing directly at Shen Lian's brow.

fast!

too fast!

Shen Lian's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively used the "Spirit Serpent Step" to retreat rapidly.

The old man slashed through the air with his sword.

"That was close!" Shen Lian thought with a chill.

The old man missed his first strike, and with the wooden sword, he followed up with a downward slash, changing his move as smoothly as flowing water, and launched a frenzied attack on Shen Lian.

Shen Lian quickly used the "Mountain-Splitting Style" to defend himself.

clang!

A violent clang of metal resounded throughout the space.

Shen Lian's arm trembled; the force emanating from the wooden sword was very strong, putting him under considerable pressure.

"This old man's control over power has reached a state of perfection..." Shen Lian exclaimed in astonishment.

His footwork shifted, unleashing the full power of the "Serpent Steps," his figure moving and dodging like a snake's shadow within the seventh level of space.

At the same time, several moves of the "Demon Subduing Blade Technique" were unleashed in succession.

In an instant, the clash of swords and the shadows of blades intertwined within the eighth level of the Trial Tower.

Half an incense stick's time has passed.

"Isn't Shen Lian staying on the eighth floor for far too long?" Chu Wenyuan couldn't help but say.

Chu Chunqiu sneered, "The guardian of the eighth level is a battle imprint left by a True Qi Realm senior. It won't be easy for Shen Lian to pass through this level."

Chu Wenyuan, Zhou Tong, and Wang Chuan nodded slightly; they didn't believe Shen Lian could surpass Chu Chunqiu.

Chu Xiong stood on the high platform, pondering in his heart that if Shen Lian could really pass the eighth level, then this boy's talent would be too amazing, and he must nip it in the bud as soon as possible.

Inside the training tower, Shen Lian had already fallen into a disadvantageous position.

The old man's swordsmanship grew increasingly fierce, each strike aimed directly at vital points, leaving Shen Lian struggling to defend himself. Even more terrifying was the old man's apparent ability to anticipate Shen Lian's moves, easily suppressing him.

"This can't go on..." Shen Lian's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. In battle, the worst thing is to be impatient and agitated; once you lose your composure, defeat is inevitable.

Shen Lian began to carefully observe the old man's swordplay.

Ten moves, twenty moves, thirty moves...

"Found it!" Shen Lian shouted.

Just as the old man thrust out his sword, Shen Lian suddenly accelerated, unleashing the full power of the second level of the "Spirit Serpent Step," "Serpent Shedding," as he charged towards his opponent.

To outsiders, this action was tantamount to suicide, but Shen Lian knew the truth. The power of this sword strike had already diminished by 30%, and this was his only chance.

The wooden sword pierced Shen Lian's left shoulder, but it only penetrated half an inch into the flesh before being tightly gripped by the muscles.

At the same time, Shen Lian's longsword was like a venomous snake emerging from its hole; with a flash of light, it slashed straight at the old man's right wrist holding the sword.

The old man tried to draw his sword to defend himself, but Shen Lian's left shoulder muscles held him firmly in place.

Swish!

The long sword sliced ​​across the old man's wrist. No blood flowed, but the wooden sword slipped from the old man's hand and vanished in a flash of light.

"The flaw has been revealed!" Shen Lian pressed his advantage, unleashing three moves of the "Demon Subduing Blade Technique" in succession.

This strike concentrated all of Shen Lian's vital energy, and the blade light was like a bolt of lightning, cleaving the old man in two from head to toe!

The old man slowly dissipated, turning into countless points of light that merged into the surrounding walls.

Shen Lian knelt on one knee, panting heavily.

Blood was gushing from the wound on his left shoulder, but he still smiled.

Eighth floor, passed!

Outside the tower, the eighth floor of the Trial Tower shone with golden light.

Outside the Trial Tower, all was deathly silent.

Many people stared blankly at the shimmering golden light on the eighth floor, their faces filled with disbelief.

Even Chu Chunqiu failed to pass the eighth level of the Trial Tower.

It should be noted that Chu Chunqiu is one of the four great talents of Qingzhou, and the heir whom the Chu family has been cultivating with all their might.

But Shen Lian was just an ordinary demon-suppressing envoy from a small border county like Qinghe County, yet he actually passed the eighth level!

"How is this possible?" Chu Wenyuan said through gritted teeth.

Zhou Tong and Wang Chuan exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

They had all heard about the Trial Tower; the guardian of the eighth floor was a half-step True Qi Realm expert, and few could defeat him.

Even Chu Chunqiu failed to do it.

And now, Shen Lian has actually defeated his opponent.

How could this not surprise them?

Chu Chunqiu's face was gloomy. His hands were clenched tightly, his knuckles were white, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing. Shen Lian had actually passed the eighth level of the Trial Tower!

"Brother Shen has passed the eighth level of the Trial Tower," Chu Wen said excitedly.

Chen Yun breathed a sigh of relief, and a look of joy appeared on her pretty face.

Lin Feng, holding his long sword, stared expressionlessly at the Trial Tower.

The Trial Tower gates were not opened.

"Shen Lian hasn't come out?"

"Is he going to try and reach the ninth level?"

"Insane! Trying to reach the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm? Isn't that suicide?"

The crowd stirred when they saw that Shen Lian had not come out.

The ninth level of the Trial Tower has never been conquered by a martial artist at the Body Tempering Realm since its construction.

That was a trial ground specifically prepared for True Qi Realm experts, and it was said to contain some kind of inheritance of the Demon Suppression Division.

"Overestimating yourself!" Chu Chunqiu sneered.

He knew better than anyone how terrifying the ninth level was. His uncle, Chu Xiong, had warned him that he should never attempt the ninth level until he reached the True Qi Realm.

That wasn't a trial, it was suicide.

Inside the tower, Shen Lian stood before the stone steps leading to the ninth floor.

"The ninth floor..." Shen Lian looked at the deep passage above, hesitating.

According to the rules, he has already passed the eighth level, which is enough to rank him among the top performers. Quitting now would preserve his strength and avoid attracting too much attention.

But for some reason, he felt a strong urge.

The feeling was as if something in the dark was calling to him.

Shen Lian took a deep breath, and the "Tiger Subduing Stance" mental technique in his body slowly circulated, with qi and blood flowing through his meridians, nourishing his tired body.

After a moment, his eyes hardened.

"Now that we're here, we should at least see what's on the ninth floor."

He stepped onto the stone steps.

The stone steps were long and spiraled upwards. Ancient murals were carved on the walls on both sides, depicting scenes of the ancestors of the Demon Suppression Division battling demons and evil spirits. The higher one went, the greater the pressure in the air became, as if a thousand-pound burden was pressing down on one's shoulders.

After a long while, Shen Lian walked to a stone gate that exuded an ancient aura. The stone gate was tightly closed at the moment.

The Gate of True Qi!

Four large characters are carved in a vigorous and powerful style above the stone gate.

Shen Lian reached out and pushed the door, but the stone door did not budge.

He continued to increase the force, channeling his energy into his arms, causing the muscles in his right arm to bulge, but the stone gate remained unmoved.

"Does it require true qi to push it away?" Shen Lian frowned.

He stepped back and carefully examined the stone gate. He noticed a recessed handprint in the center of the gate, surrounded by fine lines.

After a moment's thought, Shen Lian placed his right hand on the handprint.

In an instant, something unexpected happened!

The patterns on the stone gate suddenly lit up, and a huge suction force came from the handprint, frantically drawing blood and qi from Shen Lian's body.

"Oh no!"

Shen Lian was shocked and tried to pull his hand away, but found that his palm was firmly attached to the stone door and he could not break free at all. His blood and qi were also being continuously sucked away.

At this rate, he'll be drained dry in less than ten breaths!

"Let's give it our all!"

Shen Lian gritted his teeth and immediately reversed the flow of qi and blood in his body.

boom!

In an instant, the blood and qi that were flowing smoothly in Shen Lian's body were forcibly reversed and poured back into his dantian, and intense pain instantly spread throughout his body.

Shen Lian groaned, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. The suction force above him weakened instantly, and he immediately pulled his right hand away.

The stone door suddenly trembled, and then slowly opened to both sides.

An ancient, desolate, and vast aura emanated from inside the door.

Behind the door was not the battlefield as one might have imagined.

It was a small stone chamber.

In the center of the stone chamber, a crystal ball the size of a fist floats. The ball is transparent, with mist slowly flowing inside, emitting a soft glow.

Below the crystal ball is a stone platform.

On the table lay a scroll of bamboo slips, yellowed with age.

After entering the stone chamber, Shen Lian immediately surveyed his surroundings and, after confirming that there was no danger, slowly walked to the stone platform.

The cover of the bamboo slip had several ancient seal characters written on it.

"True Qi Condensation Technique!"

Shen Lian's heart pounded wildly as he looked at the words above.

This is the key method to break through to the True Qi Realm!

The entire Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division only possesses a few True Qi Condensation Techniques, and these are all controlled by high-ranking officials.

For an ordinary demon slayer to obtain the True Qi Condensation Method, they either need to perform great merit for the Demon Suppression Division or pay a huge price.

Now, a complete method for condensing true qi is laid out before him.

Shen Lian suppressed his excitement and opened the bamboo slips.

"True Qi is the essence of heaven and earth, and the brilliance of the human body. To condense True Qi, one must first open the ten acupoints, then gather the hundred meridians, and finally open the Dantian Qi Sea..."

Shen Lian was engrossed in reading the contents of the bamboo slips.

This "True Qi Condensation Method" is different from the ordinary methods he knows.

It mentions a secret technique called "Ten Apertures Returning to One," which allows one to condense a wisp of true energy before reaching the Body Tempering Realm, laying a solid foundation for future breakthroughs. However, cultivating this method requires enduring immense pain, and the success rate is less than 30%.

"Ten orifices return to one..." Shen Lian murmured to himself.

He has now opened six apertures, but is still some distance from achieving the perfection of ten apertures. However, if he can condense true energy ahead of time, even just a trace, his combat power will undergo a qualitative change.

Shen Lian memorized the contents of the bamboo slip and then looked at the floating crystal ball.

He reached out and touched the crystal ball, and a white bead fell down.

True Qi Seed!

Shen Lian looked at the falling white bead, which was the 'True Qi Seed', which could help martial artists in the Body Tempering Realm to sense true qi in advance.

"It's time to go out!" Shen Lian said, clenching his fist.

Outside the Trial Tower!

All eyes were on the Trial Tower. Shen Lian had been on the ninth floor of the Trial Tower for quite some time now, and no one knew what was going on.

Suddenly, the heavy iron gate slowly opened.

A person walked out of the Trial Tower; it was Shen Lian.

"Shen Lian is out!"

"I stayed on the ninth floor for more than an hour."

"Could it be that he passed the ninth level?"

Many demon-suppressing envoys stared at Shen Lian, as if trying to see through him.

Chu Chunqiu's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at Shen Lian. He tried to discern something from Shen Lian, but found that the other's aura was restrained, making him somewhat unfathomable.

Zhou Mang announced loudly, "Shen Lian, number seventeen, has cleared eight levels in two hours and three quarters of an hour, and is currently in first place!"

Eight floors?

Shen Lian was slightly taken aback, then understood.

According to the rules of the Trial Tower, only by defeating the guardian can one pass. The ninth floor has no guardian, only the legacy, so his score remains the eighth floor.

However, that's enough.

Having obtained the "True Qi Condensation Method" and the "True Qi Seed," I can sense the True Qi Realm ahead of time.

Breaking through to the True Qi Realm will be much easier then.

"Shen Lian ranked first, and his time was even shorter than Chu Chunqiu's."

"A man from a small, remote county has surpassed the Chu family's prodigy!"

"It's not just surpassing, it's pushing the record forward! Clearing eight levels in just over two hours, that's incredible efficiency..."

A chorus of voices surged toward Shen Lian, a mixture of shock, admiration, and jealousy.

Chu Xiong said to Zhou Mang beside him, "Commander Zhou, this year's Trial Tower has produced a promising talent. From Qinghe County? It seems that Commander Zhao Shan has done a good job in training him."

Zhou Mang nodded and said, "His willpower, combat prowess, and adaptability are all top-notch. He should be ranked first in this evaluation. What does Vice Commander Chu think?"

Chu Xiong smiled insincerely and said, "Naturally, we should judge heroes by their achievements. Commander Zhou can simply act impartially. However, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. It's not necessarily a blessing for a young person to be too sharp. He still needs more polishing."

Zhou Mang remained noncommittal, saying calmly, "Jade that is not carved cannot become a vessel. Whether it is a blessing or a curse depends on his own destiny."

Chu Xiong said nothing more, only giving Shen Lian a cold look.

"Brother Shen, amazing!" Chu Wen was the first to rush up and laughed loudly.

Chen Yun quickly approached and looked at his left shoulder injury with concern: "Senior Brother Shen, your injury..."

"It's nothing, just a superficial injury." Shen Lian shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

Shen Lian looked into the distance and met Chu Chunqiu's gaze.

Two pairs of eyes met in mid-air.

Chu Chunqiu remained silent, then turned and led Chu Wenyuan and the others away.

Chu Wen watched them leave, his brows furrowed. "Brother Shen, Chu Chunqiu is a man who holds grudges. You've humiliated him so much today; he will not let this go. His uncle, Chu Xiong, was also present; I'm afraid..."

Shen Lian said calmly, "The Demon Suppression Division has its rules. If he wants to use his power to suppress others, there will be public opinion on that. If he wants to rely on his strength, then I will accept it."

Chu Wen nodded emphatically: "That's right! Why be afraid of him! Brother Shen, you're currently number one in the Trial Tower, riding high on your success, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly."

After the trial ended, Shen Lian returned to the courtyard.

He took out the "True Qi Seed".

According to the "True Qi Condensation Method," one must use their own essence and blood as a guide, combined with specific visualization techniques, to nurture the "True Qi Seed" in the dantian, gradually refining it. Only then can one perceive and condense a trace of one's own True Qi in advance, laying a solid foundation for opening the Qi Sea in the future. This process cannot be rushed; it requires patient and persistent effort.

"My injuries haven't healed yet, and my condition isn't optimal, so it's not advisable to start refining the 'True Qi Seed' immediately. The most urgent task is to stabilize my realm, heal my injuries, and thoroughly comprehend the 'True Qi Condensation Method,'" Shen Lian pondered.

He carefully stored the "True Qi Seed" and continued to study the "True Qi Condensation Method".

This method is profound and far surpasses ordinary body-strengthening techniques, with the "ten orifices returning to one" being particularly crucial.

The so-called "ten acupoints" refer to the ten major acupoints that need to be opened in the Body Tempering Realm.

Shen Lian has now opened six acupoints, with four remaining unopened.

According to the manual, if one can use the secret technique of "Ten Apertures Unified" to open all ten apertures and then activate the power of the "True Qi Seed" to unify the Qi and blood of the ten apertures and impact the dantian, it is possible to condense a wisp of innate true Qi when attempting to break through to the True Qi Realm.

Shen Lian rested quietly in the courtyard for three days.

The injury to his left shoulder has been largely healed thanks to the medicine and his own powerful regenerative abilities.

These past few days he has stayed indoors, spending all his time studying the "True Qi Condensation Method" except for completing the routine training of the Demon Suppression Division on time.

"To unify the ten acupoints, one must guide the Qi and blood from the ten major acupoints to converge in the Dantian, using the seed of true Qi as a guide to break through the barrier of the Qi Sea..."